Combined machine



COIBINED MACHINE Filed Aug. 4. 1925 4 'sheets-sheet 1 oct. 25, 1927. c, STRAUB COMBINED MACHINE Filed Aug. 4, 1925 4 sheets-sheet 2 gnvamto l- @mpmtw 1,646,796l Oct. 25 1927. c. STRAUB COIBINED EASI-[INE Filed Anz. 4, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 d I noenboz Christopher Straal. @51g l 1 S @brom/Ms n 2 19 y1646796 oct 5 27. c. STRAUS coumsn camz Filed Aug. 4 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I luf'. il

Suce/nto@ CHR/STOP//E/ 5777/105.

Patented @et 25, l927.

release eHnrs'rorHnn srRaUB, or EAST nrirtrrunsfr, Nuvi Yoan, assrenon, BY Mnsnn nssrenivrnnrs, fro Asrortra. rarronrrne anp MANUFACTURING co. rnc,`

COMBINED MACHINE.

Application filed August 4, 1925. Serial No. 48,032.

Veneer is frequently made from what is generally known as the stumps of Walnut trees because of the particularly beautiful grain which may be obtained by the use of that part of the tree. nFor the purpose of cutting the veneer from the stump it is generally cut into sections including the median line or axis of the tree and such sections which are termed flitches may include one-half the circumference of the tree or one quarter thereof and are termed, respec tively,vhalf butt flitches and quarter buttflitches. A butt flitch is then placed upon a stay log rotatable about its axis and the sheets ofveneer are stripped from the flitch by relatively stationary knives against Which the flitch is moved by the rotatioi'i of the stay log. As the stump decreases considerablyin' its diameter Within a comparatively short distance and as the elements of the circumference of the flitch must rotate in a cylindrical plane parallel to or including the knife edge, it is necessary to remove a section or slab of the flitch from what was the center of the stump in order that it may lo upon the stay log with the elements of the circumferential surface of the flitch parallel to the axis about which the stay log rotates. Heretofore, the removal of the Wedge shaped slab has been effected by hand by means of an' adze or the like which has proven a laborious and time consuming `operation with consequent increase in manufacturing costs. llVith the half butt flitch a groove is cut downrvhat was the center of :the stump which decreases in depth freni the end of greatest diameter to the end of least diameter of the stump. In quarter butt `Hitches which are segmental in cross section awedge shaped slab including the apex `thereof is removed. These operations have heretofore 'been performed manually. t is also frequently des' able to plane the surface of a log preparatory to the removal of the veneer therefrom. The present invention'has for its object to provide a machine which shall be capable of performing the various operations enumerated above automatically and thus do away with the time consuming manual operation. Accordingly, what is termed a variety planer has been devised Which is capable of performing the various desired operations more or less automatically. More particularly, a reciprocating carrier upon which the flitch may be conveniently placed with the elements of its circumferential surface substantially parallel to the plane ot' travel thereof is adapted to bring a Hitch in Contact with a rotary knife or knives Whereby, with successive cuts, a groove may be formed as pointed out hereinbefore. Pro- .vision is also made for removing a slab from ay quarter butt Hitch through the instrumentality of an independent reciprocating carriage, the rotary saw by which such cut is made being carried upon a shaft which mayI also serve to carry the planing means or if desired, a knife head also capable of cutting the groove. invention Will now be described in greater particular-ity in connection With the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vievv in side elevation showthe machine according to the present invention and a flitch in position on the carrier preparatory to cutting a slot therein, taken in the plane indicated by the line 1-1 in Figure 2, that portion of the machine indicated to the right of line l-l in Figure 2 being removed in the interet of cle'arness.

Figure 2 is a View in end elevation showrllhese and other objects of the ing the machine llooking from the left in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the machine.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view showing automatic setting devices to control the depth of each cut in cutting the groove.

Figure `5 is a fragmentary detailed view taken in the plane indicated by the line 5-5 in Figure l and looking in the direction of the arrovvs.` l Y Figure` is a View partly in section and partlyin elevation of a `modiied form of cutter head which is carried with a transversely extending shaft.

Figure 7 is a view in end elevation shovving aV moded reciprocating carriage for use in conjunction with the circular saW.

Figure 8 is a view showing the carrier in side elevation looking, from the right in Figure 7. p y

Figure 9 is a view in plan showing a modiiied construction for actuating the screws by Which the knife carrier is raised and lowered.

Reterring to Figure l. a half round ilitch n, Within which a groove is to be cut asat a and which has already been cut as indicated at a2 is shown as rigidly secured upon a reciprocating carriage b between a stationary chuck b and an adjustable chuck b2. The

carriage is mounted upon the wheels 7)? whereby the carriage is enabled to reciprocate on the tracks c which are supported upon aV firm foundation (Z. The carriage may be reciprocated in any convenient way. `ln the illustrated' embodiment a rack his illustrated as mounted beneath the frame of 'the carriage upoii either side thereof and isl 'ed rods g, g, "journaled at their lower'ends adjacent the tracks and neai their upper end in the 'cross head e. Above the cross Y frame member `@'each screw is provided with al bevel pinion 'g constantly in niesh Vwith bevel' pinions g2, g3, rotatedly carried ywith a. transverse s liaft g and adapted to be clutched to rotate with said shaft by means of suitable clutching devices g ai tuated `in anyY convenient manner as by ine-ans fof the rods gs adapted to actuate the respective clutches simultaneously. During the making of the cut the bevel .piiiioiis g2, g3 are, Y'of course, unclutched and it may vbeV found advantageous in `some situations to guard against any desired slight rotation of; the threaded rods g which 'would tend toV alter the elevation ofthe cutter head.V A modified construction to accomplish this purpose .is illustrated in Figure 9 wherein thepulley G53 is shown'as mounted upon the shaft GVgupon which.` :are .loosely mounted the bevel pinions G2 and G3" but theV shaft Gt-is, cut, offV adjacent the bevel pinion G2. Pinions G2, G3 are adapted :to beselectively clutched to .the shaft G4 'by means of theY clutch The bevel gear G atfthe left of Figures 2 and $1 is adapted to be driven from'the bevel :gear G fat theright through an independent drive'.` lTo .this endashaft 79 vertically dis- Y posed.I with respect to the shaft Gt is supported as byvabracket from the cross membereand carries at its ends .bevel pinions 2. The bevel pinion p meshes with the Vgear G and the bevel pinions p2 meshes with apinion g1 carried upon a transversely eX- `tending"shaft g extending substantially parallel to the shaft G4.

meshing with a-bevel pinion 1 carried upon -a shaft ref-parallel to the shaft L@which has rotation of the Upon the opposite end of'shafhg vthere is carried a bevel pinion g2 15e/repec at its opposite end a bevel pinion r2 meshing with the bevel gear G. Thus by means of this, what may be termed, indirect drive, the screws g, g in unison is assured.

Carried withthe carrier fis a cutter by which the groove a is cut. This cutter may take the form of blades 7L carried in a head it mounted .upon the end of a vertically disposed shaft ]2 journaled in a bearing h3 carried with the carrier f and also journaled in the cross frame member e. Within an aperture e2 in the cross head'e'tliere is disposed a pulley It* adapted to be drivenas by the belt yand to rotate the shaft 7a2. Since the cutting head h is lowered after each cut provision must be made vfor reciprocating the shaft while from practical considerations the beltdriven pulley should remain relatively stationary. To this end the shaft h2 is relatively movable with respect Vto the pulley L* and a drivingconne'ction is `effected by means of a'key hl; y I

It will,'of course7 ybe obvious'that the complete groove need not be formed lin the flitch in'fone cut but that successive cuts of relatively shallow depth maygbe made; Automatic devices are indicated for lowering the cutter headaftereach cut depedent uponV the recipi'ocation of the carriage. To this end a pinion z' is illustrated as ycarried .upon the shaft gA1 and is in mesh with aV pinion iA carried with a stub shaft 2 joui'naled in the cioss head e adjacent the shaft g4. A ratchet 3 is adapted to rotate with pinion i. A` clutch 4 is also illustrated whereby lthe ratchet and shafts'2 may be rotated together in one direction while' the shaft will rotate nected as by a link ja with the arm of a bell Y crank jt, the otherarm 3'5 `of which is adapted to be engaged by .a pin b` carried withthe carriage LSuitableyielding.devices j@ are provided which will constantly tend toj move the arm jf `against theV actionof the pinfb* wherebyrthe constant tendency Vof the a ctu-VA ating` devices is such as 4to' normally retain the ratchet anddog y out of engagement. A. dog vorfratchetj7 is also illustrated as providedto prevent the rotationrof the ratchet in one `direction upon disengagement of the actuating devices. x y y `VVThe operation of the actuating devicesis as follows: `Aftrir the carriage has traveled toward the right in Figure l and the rotating knives 72, have made a cut `inthe flitch a the carriage is returned to the position shown.v at` the left in Figurel at which time the pin isbrought in contact with the Vindependently of the ratchet `in the vopposite lbell crank lever j4 thereby causing the link yg to be `drawn downwardly and the 'lever to cause lthe rotation in a counterclockwise `in turn will lower the cutter head preparatory to making the next cut.

Due tothe variations in the depth of the cut desired as will be .obvious from an inspection lof the illustration of the flitch in Figure lit may be found'advantageous in some instances to ei'l'eet the lowering of the cutter head manually `rather than automat-i- 'cally To this end a `pulley g8 may be carried on the 'end of the shaft g1 which is adapted to be driven constantly in one direction -by the "belt gf. llVhen `the shaft is rotated bythe pulley g8 the raising or lowering of the carrier .f may be effected by clutching the appropriate bevel gear g2 or g3 to the shaft.

"The arrangement illustrated may also be found advantageous in the performance of other necessary operations. For instance` timbers may be readily 'planed by taking advantage of the construction just described, together with additional auxiliary parts. Between the rails 'there 'may be journaled a plurality of rollers 7c and a roll Z may also be carried with the carrier and adapted Vto be normally .pressed downwardly as by the spring Z. Immediatelybeneatln` the roll between the tracks c there maybe disposed a knife carrier m 4carried upon a shaft m journaled in bearings m2"c`a'rried with the base (Z and carrying at one end a pulley m3 whereby the shaft may be rotated. Knives may be inserted in the slots mt in the knife carrier m and upon removal of the cutter head it', the carrier f may then be lowered until the roll Z yieldingly engages a stick of timber carried upon the rollers 7c. The timber may then be moved forwardly over thc rolls in any convenient manner to be engaged by the planing' devices carried with the head m.

It is frequently found necessary to cut otl' a slab from the flitch before the operation of cutting the groove is commenced and in quarter flitches a wedge-shaped slab is all that is necessary to be removed. To facilitate this operation the end of the shaft m may carry a circular saw m5 and a carriageV n, is shown as reciprocable adjacent the circular saw along tracks n by means of the racks n? and pinions n3 rotatable in any convenient manner. Obviously other lmeans for reciprocating this carriage `may be adopted. stay log a* may be mounted upon the carriage n `and may be adapted to retain a fhtch by means of the dogs n l and the stay log at may be reciprocated to- V'transversely extending channels s2 and `supported on the respective fp'airs of channels are ways s3. Journaled in the channels fis-a shaft t adapted to be rotated by ratchet `mechanism t and carrying between the channels s2 pinions t2, t2. These pinions may `be slidable with respect to the shaft t but rotated therewith by means of the fea-tlr ers t3. Mounted upon the ways 83 are standards u having racks al adapted to `mesh with the pinions t2. Thus `upon rotation `of the shaft z5 by means of the ratchet mechanism t the standards `u may be freciprocated in unison along the ways e3 and carried npon adjacent faces of the standards are dogs @02,143 one of which jmay be stationary "and the other adjustable. Occasion may arise, particularly in connection with the use of quarter tlitches for varying the relative position of thestandards with respect to `one another in order that a wedge-shaped slab may be cut from the Hitch. To this end out of engagement with the racks and A'then i moving the standards with respect to one another until the desired relation is attained whereafter the pinions t2 may be again enmeshed with the racks u.

Modified devices for cutting a groove in the stay log are indicatedy in Figures 1 and 6. These devices take the form of a cutter head o adapted to be carried with the knife carrier m and held in position by wedges o' secured in position by split nuts 02 which are adapted to mesh with the threads m6 m6. On assembly, of course, the head 0V is slipped on over the carrier m to the desired position, wedges set in the slots me are forced inwardly against the head until absolute rigidity is obtained by the nuts 02whereafter the nuts are clamped in position by means of bolts o3. The cutter head carries knives 04 suitably spaced on the circumference thereof. Of course, a recess of sufficient depth for the reception of the head o is provided in the base d and the carriage b is similarly provided with a recess centrally thereof whereby clearance for the head is afforded. Vith this modification7 obviously, the flitch is disposed in the dogs 112, in a reversed mannerso y 1 that the groove is cut in the lowermost part of the piece of Wood.

It will be thus seen that amacliine is provided which is eelt-containedA and capable of performing a plurality of functions in and about a veneer cuttingplant. No limitation is intendedV in the particular forni taken by the coacting elements illustrated. or hereinvbefore described except as indicated in they accompanying claims.

Wliatlclaim is: l l Y Y lLIn combination, parallel rails, vertical Ways, a carrier movable over the Ways, 'Iverticalvvorm shafts by Vwhich the carrier is moved, bevel pinioiis carried on the ends ot thewvorm shafts, respectively, means tose- Alectively engage the pinions, a carriage movable overtlie rails, transverse shaft, open ative connections between the transverse shaft and the Worin shafts, a ratchet carried with the -endotthe transverse shaft, and means to rotate the .ratchet dependent upon .the reciprocation of the carriage.

2, i In a device of the character described, in combination, a carriage, a. rotatable shaft,

aplurality of pinions carried with tlielshatt, i means to rotate .tliefshaft7 Ways carried with the carriage, standards reciprocable on the V-ivays, `racks carried with the standards, and' means to mesh said pinions `ivitli the standards when desired. i Y j Y l 3. In a Wood cuttingmachine having` a bed,` rails carried uponythe bed, rollei'srcare p ried `transversely A-Witli said` rails vert-ical Ways carried upon the bed, a carrier slid- Y able vertically uponsaid avays, arotary cutter mounted 'with said carrier, `nianually- *operable means to adJust the vertical distance vbetween the carrier and the bed, means to rotate the cutter, a movable `carriazfge .inountedfupon the said rollers, meaiism retain the' Work upon said carriage, means to,

alternatelyv feedand Withdraw the'work with respect to the cutter, means operatively as- Vsociated with said carriage to automatically lower thecutter upon each successive ivitlidraWal of the carriage in preparation for the next out. K

4t. In a wood cutting machine having va bed, rails carried upon the bed7 vertical Ways carried upon the bed, a carrier slidable vertically upon said Ways, a rotatary cutter mounted With saidA carrier, manually oper able means to ad] ust the vertical distance betvveen the carrier andthe bed, means to rotate tlieicutter, a movable carriage, nieans'to retain the work upon said carriage, ineans to alternately `feed and `Withdraw the Work ivitli respect to the cutter,l and means {oper-p atively associatedivitli said carriage to automatically lower the cutter upon eachy suc` cessive Withdrawal of the; carriage in prepretain the Workupon saidcarriage, means toA alternately ieed and Withdraw the `Work vivitli respect to the cutter, aratchet Wheel carried with, the means to position r the carrier, a, paivl, a link connected lto the Pawl, a crankinouiited onthe (Viarriage andi-means to engagethe crank on each reciprocation to operate thev ratchet and lower theVV cutter upon each successive vvvitli'draivlof the carringe in preparation for theV next out.V

This specification `signed'this 31st davo!g July, A, D. i925.,v

l, onniysroiiinn sraiiui. l 

